PURE Chalkstream fly fishing

The Wilton Club was formed in 1876.  Since then it has provided its Members with over seven miles of top quality, exclusive, keepered, chalk stream fishing for wild brown trout and grayling.  

The main river is the Wylye, a tributary of the Avon catchment.  In addition to the main river channel, as is normal with chalk streams, there are some narrow sinuous ‘carriers’ which split off from the main water course, meandering through meadows and under willows, over water cress beds, before re-joining the main river channel a few hundred yards further down. 

For anglers choosing to fish these ‘carriers’ greater stealth and a more refined skill set is necessary to catch the fewer but larger specimen fish that reside in these beguiling complex channels.   Most of the river is wade-able, which is the conventional way that most Members fish.  

The Wylye is a very picturesque river, originating in the Deverills near Maiden Bradley, by-passing Warminster, flowing through chalk and over green sand, between and across the wooded pastures and farmsteads of the valley, winding its way through the small agricultural hamlets of Norton Bavant, Sutton Veny, Wylye, Bapton, Great Wishford before reaching the first large town of Wilton and then through its confluence with the River Nadder joining the Avon in Salisbury.

The Wilton Club, always synonymous with top quality fly fishing for wild brown trout and grayling, has been sensitively and holistically managed by an unbroken chain of permanent full time River Keepers, living in the Club’s cottage since 1878. 

 The Wilton Club is unique in providing quite varied classical chalk stream dry fly trout fishing that it's Members find both stimulating and very rewarding.  This type of classic dry fly and nymph water necessitates some experience in casting and stalking, and probably isn't suitable for beginners or those relatively inexperienced in casting flies on clear rivers to spooky and wily wild river fish.  Interestingly, those who become Members, tend to retain their Membership for many many years, a few in excess of thirty five years, and a handful who live long distances away, sometimes in other continents  and not being able to visit frequently.

If you would be interested in becoming a Member of the historic and renowned Wilton Club, then please do get in touch with us by email.

Email: enquiries@wiltonffc.co.uk